| I was slightly nervous, and wary as I approached Mike's Garage - I wasn't 100% convinced that meeting him for lunch was the best idea in the world....I was worried people would get the wrong idea, and think I was somehow betraying Nicky. I knew I wasn't, but they wouldn't. My worries were put to rest though, as Mike came out and met me. I was greeted with a warm friendly smile: "Hi Charlotte - saw you coming along the road - and you're on time!" "Hiya - yeah - it's amazing, I'm never usually puntual!" "Well, I've an hour or so for lunch, c'mon let's go and get some fish and chips, my treat!" "As you promised Mike." I smiled, and we headed to the shop - it wasn't far from his work place. As we went to the shop, we talked: "So Charlotte, had a busy day?" "Well.....was on the phone to Amy, or rather she was on the phone to me! She phoned me at 10am this morning, and got me out of bed!" "Oh no!" Mike said sarcastically, "10am....nightmare. By then I'd fixed about 4 cars!" "Very funny - well, for those of us who DONT work, it was a nightmare!" "Fair enough! Why did she phone that early though?" "Well, she was quizzing me about you as a matter of fact! She took quite a fancy to you last night!" "I didn't really want to say anything, but the thought did cross my mind! Maybe it was the constant staring at me that gave her away!" "Yeah! Well, when I told her about today she was so mad...well, not mad but envious I think is more appropriate." "Haha, well, it's just a friendly lunch - what's there to envy?" I looked at Mike, definately reasured by this statement. "Precisely - that's what I told her. Do you like Amy though? I mean, is she your type?" Mike smiled, and went slightly red. "Well, firstly I have to say I don't know the girl that well. But, on first impressions, I'd have to say no. She seemed a really nice person, but not my type if you know what I mean - I prefer quieter girls, good sense of humour, casual and relaxed girls......girls I can really get to know. Plus, I always go for brunettes!" "Oh, ok! Fair enough - I'll let her down gently - it's good you're so honest though - not many guys nowadays are." "Well, I'm not the sort for leading girls on....it's not fair on anyone that way. Now, saying how I feel if I like them is a totally different story...!" "Really? I thought you were more the..forward type." "Oh no, not me - I'm really quite shy...well, when it comes to girls." "Aww - how sweet!" We reached the shop, and Mike bought our lunch. It smelt absolutely lovely. "Charlotte - you fancy going down to the harbour, and sitting there. I quite often eat my lunch down there - it's nice, and you can watch the boats." "Okay, sounds good." We went to the harbour, and found a bench beside the docks. It wasn't cold at all, infact, the sun was shining, and I could hear the sea-gulls as they flew about, looking for scraps of fish. "Hmmmm, these are lovely Mike - thank you, for buying me lunch." "Don't mention it - it's nice to find someone I can really get along with, and the same age as me." "Yeah, know what you mean." "So, you've lived here long Charlotte?" I ate another chip before answering: "Yeah, all my life. I love it here - it's not too quiet, but quiet enough for my liking. Everyone is nice, the scenery is beautiful....I'm very fond of it. I've had a lot of good times here Mike....some bad." Mike turned and looked at me. "I like it here - it seems nice, a lot nicer than my old village." "That's good - you'll like living here." "I hope so, I am so far! My cousin used to live here....Colin Kleinn....you might have know him?" "Oh, I knew Colin - he worked in the local store?" "Yeah, that was him." "He was your cousin? Oh I'm sorry Mike - is that who you were visiting the other day, in the cemetary?" Mike sighed. "Yeah, it was. We used to all call him Cos. I was especially close to Cos - he was more like a brother than a cousin - we were both raised together you see, and he was only 2 years older than me. That day.....when we heard....I was just devastated Charlotte - I didn't know what to say or do. I couldn't believe it at first, I guess I didn't really believe it until recently - it was such a shock, and a tragedy." "I know what you mean....what you must have went through. I went through the same when Nicky died. I remember hearing about Cos on the local news.....it was a few yeears ago wasn't it?" "3 years ago....it doesn't seem that long ago though." "What actually caused it?" "A little girl was playing with a ball at the side of the road, and the ball bounced off, across the road. When she ran to get it, she ran out infront of Cos, whilst he was driving along the road.....he swerved to miss her, and crashed. His injuries were fatal - he died instantly they think." "I remember being upset - I liked Cos. He'd always greet me with a smile.....every morining when I went to get the groceries." "Sounds like Cos alright." Mike gave a little chuckle. We ate some more chips. The bats were starting to move, going out to sea for fish. The gulls followed them, scrounging for food. "I've always wanted to own a boat." I looked at Mike: "Really? What....to sail around the world in!" "Well, no. Just to go out in.....sail about - not necesarily around the world!" "Sounds good." "My Mother told me my real Father owned a boat." "Told you?" "Yes, I never knew my real Father - he left me when I was 3 months old. He worked as a farmer, but owned a boat aswell - he used to go fishing on the boat every spare weekend, or so she told me anyway." "Why did he leave - sorry, don't mean to be nosey....don't listen to me!" "No, it's okay Charlotte - I'm pleased you say what's on your mind. Why did he leave? That is a good question....one I don't really know the answer to, to be honest. At the time I was born, my mother couldn't work, because she had to look after me, and my father wasn't earning much money from farming - I guess the pressure got too much in the end." "I'm sorry." "Don't be - although I often wonder about him, I've always grown up with a father....well, a man who I consider to be my father anyway - he lives back home with my Mum - I call him Dad, because aas far as i'm concerned, he is: He's always been there for me, and is the only father I've ever known. My rel father has never shown interest in us." I smiled, not knowing really what to say. Eventaully I decided to change the topic of conversation. "That's me finished my fish and chips anyway! They were lovely - my stomach feels a lot better now!" "Good - I've finished too! I was looking forward to that all morning!" I grinned. "We'd better start heading back - you're lunch break is nearly up!" "Yeah, good point. C'mon." We began our gradual walk back to the garage. A light breeze began to blow, it wasn't a cold breeze though. We reached the garage. "Well Charlotte, lunch was nice." "Yes, it was , really nice - those fish and chips..mmmm!" "Well, see you." "Okay - fancy dropping in for a coffee on your way home?" "Yeah, if you're sure?" I smiled, noticing Mikes blue eyes - they reminded me so much of Nicky. "Of course, My Mum will be uot anyway - I'll be home alone." "Okay Charlotte - I'll be round about 5pm?" "Great, see you then." "Bye."We waved godbye, and I wandered back home, thinking. All kinds of thoughs were in my mind, mostly of Nicky - I couldn't help feeling guilty, although I wasn't entirely sure what for. I was worried I had done something wrong - and that Nicky might be looking down on me upset, and thinking my love for him had gone. It would never go - my love for Nicky would always remain, no matter what was to happen in the future. I accepted the probability that my feeling of guilt would always be here too. As I walked along the road, I thought of lunch time - how nice it had been, and how pleased I was to have found someone my own age, who I got on so well with. I knew Mike and I would become good friends, as long as that was all it would be. I wasn't ready for anyone else yet - I couldn't. I sighed, and quickened my pace. I decided to visit Nicky;s grave, as I hadn't that day. I visited him everyday, and had done ever since his death. I grasped the shamrock - the one Nicky had given me, that had remained embedded in the pendant I had around my neck. I grasped it tightly as I walked. "You'll never be forgotten Nicky.....never." |